Young workers living in poverty respond to proposed changes to minimum wage
Young workers living in poverty respond to proposed changes to minimum wage
In response to speculation that the Chancellor will slow down increases to minimum wage for younger workers, Youth Ambassadors for the End Child Poverty Coalition have published an open letter to Rachel Reeves. Highlighting that low wages for young workers will continue to keep poorer young people poor.
Young people can legally be paid less than older workers. A policy based on the assumption that younger workers have less outgoings. Yet for families experiencing poverty, this is not the case. Young workers need to earn a wage which is equal to older workers, as they also have bills to pay, housing costs to meet, and sometimes costs associated with having their own children too.
One Ambassador explains;
“I have worked jobs where I am paid significantly less than my co-workers for doing the same job. I work the same late nights, have the same travel expenses and put the same energy into the job. But I am paid so much less. It is always put down to “you have less expenses” with the presumption you are living at home with financial support off your parents. But what about the young people that don’t? I have to pay my own rent, buy my own food, and pay my own living costs. Why should I get paid less and be left to struggle. The system of young people being paid less is built on outdated, unrealistic ideal that young people all have security, financial support and a family to rely on.”
Full text of the open letter reads;
Dear Chancellor,
We are writing following reports that you are considering a delay the equalisation of the minimum wage for younger workers. As Youth Ambassadors for the End Child Poverty Coalition, our perspective is informed by lived experience of growing up and working in poverty. We are deeply concerned that proceeding with such a delay would entrench hardship for young people and prolong an injustice that is already acutely felt.
Many young workers simply cannot afford to be paid ‘pocket money’. We have rent, utilities and food to pay for – none of which are reduced to reflect our age. Within our group is a single parent raising a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), requiring specialist equipment and additional expenses. She works full-time on minimum wage, yet receives a lower rate purely because of her age. Her rent is not discounted. Her child’s needs are not reduced. Being younger does not make her responsibilities lighter – but it does result in a smaller pay packet.
Another ambassador was forced out of education at 16 and straight into the workforce. They worked the same hours, carried the same responsibilities, and met the same expectations as older colleagues, yet were paid significantly less. Each month was a cycle of deciding which essential bill could be delayed and which necessity would have to go without.
A further Ambassador now at university works two jobs to cover £11,000 a year in rent that consumes their entire maintenance loan, while being paid less than older colleagues for identical work.
Greater financial security for lower-income young workers enables our participation in the local economy, supports communities, and reduces longer-term social costs. Conversely, maintaining lower wages reinforces cycles of insecurity and limits our opportunity at precisely the stage of life when stability matters most.
We urge you to reconsider any proposal to delay equalising the minimum wage for younger workers. Age should never be grounds for paying someone less for the same work. Young adults like us cannot and should not continue to shoulder the consequences of economic decisions that undervalue our contribution.
Yours sincerely,
End Child Poverty Youth Ambassadors
